Game



March 17, 1925.

I J. M. MURPHY 1 30,194

GAME

Filed Aul. 5. 1924' I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOQQDOO arms INVENTOR March 17, 1925.

J. M. MURPHY ARE Filed Aug. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 INVENTOR I flu k gag $4 Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

JAMES M. MURPHY, 0F DORMONT, PENNSYLVANIA GAME.

Application filed August 5,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Janus M. Mnnrntr acitizen of the United States, residing at Dormont, county of i-illegheny, and State of Pennsylvania have invented a new and useful Improvement in Games of which the following is a full, clear and exact description The present invention relates broadly to games and more particularly to an improved l'r-aseball game device. i

It has heretofore been proposed in the art to which the present invention relates to provide a game board having the different players tor a game oi baseball indicated thereon with means for mechanically actuating the pitcher to cause him to throw a ball and means tor mechanically actuating the batter in timedrelation to] cause him to hit the thrown ball. Such structures however have usually required a special manual positioning of the ball for each play. The present invention has for one of its objects a baseball game device embodying a mechanical representation of a pitcher and batter with means whereby the throwing arm of the pitcher is automatically supplied with the previously played ball, so that the ball is ready for re-play.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes ot illustration only certain preferred embodiments of. the present invention it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan-view of a game board embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through thcboard shown in Figure l, certain of the parts being in elevation;

Figure 8 a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure l is a perspective view of a por tion (it the actuating mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating a modified embodiment of the present invention.

In carrying out the present invention there may be provided a board 2 of any desired size having supporting legs 8 and 4, the legs 4- preferably being of slightly 192-4. Serial No 730,186.

greaterhei-ght than the legs 3 whereby the board when'supported on a horizontalsurface willincline slightly forwardly as shown in Figure 2. Above the legs 4: there is provided a hood 5 preferably inclined back wardly and downwardly to deflect a ball projected thereagainst downwardly against the board 2.

fiufljueent the end of the board opposite the hood-5 there is provided a batter 6 carrying a horizontally projecting hat 7 normally inclined slightly to the vertical for reasons which will be hereinafter more readily apparent. The amount of inclination is adapted to be varied by loosening an adjustnutS and turning the bat to the desired position. i v

Intermediate the batter and hood there is provided a pitcher 9 having mounted therein a shaft 10 carrying at one end a gear ll to which is operatively secured a throwing device 12. This throwing device preferably comprises a hub 13 carrying a throwing arm 14 normally projected outwardly into theposition shown in Figure 2 by means of a spring 15, the outer limit of movement of the throwing arm being controlled by a pin 16 extending through the stem 17 projecting rearwardly from the vthrowing arm.

This throwing arm is provided with a ball opening 18 for the reception of a ball 19 illustrated in Figure 2 in full lines as in flight toward the batter and in dotted lines as havingbeen hit in the direction of the hood 5.

For etl'ecting rotation of the gear lland the throwing device 12 there is provided a shaft 20 extending longitudinally of the board below the'same and journaled at its rear end in a bracket 21. At its front end this shaft passes through one of the support-- ing legs 3 and is provided with an operating crank 22. At a point intermediate its length the shaft 20 carries either a worm or spiral gear 23 adapted to meshwiththe gear 11 whereby rotation of the shaft 20 l meat of play, a ball is manually dropped into this pocket. Thereafter the'shaift 20 is rotated to cause the throwing arm to rotate in a clockwise direction and enter the pocket, i

Due to the curvature of the forward end of the throwing arm it permits the nose to pass over the ball thereby causing the ball to enter the ball opening 18. Preferably the pocket 2% is rounded at the bottom so the ball always lies in the center of the pocket where it will always be picked upiby the throwing arm. Continued rotation of the throwing device brings the projecting portion 25 of the throwing arm into engagement with the upwardly inclined cam surface 26.

This cam surface gradually approaches the axis of rotation of the throwing device, whereby it is effective upon rotation of such device to force the throwing arm into the hub- 13 against the act-ion of the spring 15. As the throwing device assumes a horizontal position the ball is freely supported within the opening 18. As this position is passed, however, the ball tends to roll further into the opening whereby it is lirmly supported therein in a manner such that it will be accurately guided. upon its projection. Such projection occurs when the throwing arm reaches the position indicated in Figure 2 wherein it is shown as having passed the upper end of the cam surface 26. The ball, guided bythe sides of the opening 18, passes in a direction indicated by the arrows (6 against the inclined surface of the bat 7, it being projected therefrom in the direction of the arrows h. I have found that materially better results are produced if the face of the bat which engages the ball is provided with a covering of resilient material :27, such as rubber. I

in order to make the action more realistic I desire to so mount the butter 6 that the bat may be mechanically swung into impact with the ball. This is accomplished by supporting the batter on a pin 28 extending vertically through the board 2 and carrying at its lower end a crank arm 29, as clearly shown in Figure 4. At its outer end this crank arm is provided with an elongatedslot 29 through which extends a pin 30 projecting upwardly from a rod 31. The rod 31 is normally urged toward the right, as viewed in Figures 2 and 4;, by a compression spring 32, the rod extending at its forward end through one of the legs 3 and at its rear end through the bracl-Iet 21. At a suitable point inthe rod beneath the throwing device, it is provided with a vertically adjustable pin 33 adapted to extend upwardly into a position to be engaged by a pin 34pmjccting laterally from the gear 11. As the gear 11 is rotated in'the clockwise direction, the pin 34: is adapted to engage the pin 33 to move the rod 31 to the left and thereby swing the crank lever 29 in the direction indicated by the arrow 0 prior to the time that the throwing device moves out of engagement with the cam surface 26. Just about the time such disengagement occurs, the pin 34: will free the pin 33 thereby enablingthe spring to return the batter to normal position in time to cause the bat to meet the ball thrown by the pitcher. The exact time of release of the rod 31 may be accurately controlled by threading the pin 33 through the rod so that it projects a greater or less distance thereabove.

A ball which has been thrown and batted engages the hood 5 and is projected downwardly thereby against the upper surface of the board. This causes it to drop into some one oi the angularly extending grooves 35 all of which terminate in. a common groove 86 leading to the pocket 24: beneath the throwing device. Each of the grooves 35 is suitably designated so as to indicate to the players the value of the ball which has been hit. If desired the grooves may be painted in distinctive colors for the convenience of the players. l or example the out grooves may be painted red and the base-hit grooves painted white.

A number of suitable markers 37 is pro vided which markers are adapted to be moved around the bases in accordance with the value of the ball just played, each base having a suitable opening 38 to receive a projection 39 on the markers. At some suitable point the board is also provided with openings l0 adapted to receive similar markers-for indicating the number of men outand with another series of holes 41 adapted to receive such markers to indicate the number of runs made during any inning At the conclusion of any one inning the total number of runs may be entered in the oppropriate square l2 on the board. By reason of the arrangement of the grooves 35 and 36 it will be apparent thatthe ball automatically returns each time to the pocket 24; from which itis zuitmnatically picked up by the operation of the throwing device. This makes it umiecessary to manually position the ball for each play.

In Figure 5 I have indicated a slightly modified form of throwing device in which parts corresponding to parts heretofore described are designated by the same reference characters having a prime allirzed thereto.

In this embodiment, the hub i3 carries a double ended throwing arm 1e whereby two balls are throi'vn for each revolution of the gear ll.

'Hhe advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a game device adapted to simulate a game of baseball as actually played and so constructed that the ball is automatically delivered to the pitcher let) lll).

1. In a game device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein delivering to a common pocket, a pitcher having a throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, and a means for projecting said ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

2. In agame device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein adapted to deliver a ball to common pocket, a pitcher having a rotating throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, and means for projecting said ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

3. In a game device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein delivering to a common pocket, a pitcher having a throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, means for projecting said ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, and a batter in line vith the projected ball, substantially as described.

l In a game device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein delivering to a common pocket, a pitcher having throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, means for projecting said ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, a batter in linev with the projected ball, said batter having a.

mechanically actuated bat operated in timed relation to the projection of said ball, substantially as described.

5. In a nine device, a plurality of play grooves therein, a hood for deflecting a projected ball downwardly into one of said grooves, all of said grooves adapted to deliver a' ball to a common pocket, a pitcher having a throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, means for projecting a ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, and a batter for batting said ball against said hood, substantially as described.

6. In a game device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein, a hood for deflecting a projected ball downwardly into one of said grooves, all of said grooves adapted to deliver a ball to a common pocket, a pitcher having a throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, means for projecting a ball board having a from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, a batter for batting said ball against said hood, and means for operating said throwing arm and said batter in a predetermined time relationship, substantially as described.

7. In game device, a board having a plurality of play grooves therein, a hood for deflecting a projected ball downwardly into one of said grooves, all of said grooves adapted to deliver a ball to a common pocket, a pitcher having a throwing arm movable through said pocket for picking up a ball therein, means for projecting a ball from said throwing arm at a predetermined time, and a batter for batting said ball against said hood, said batter having a bat inclined downwardly and provided with a resilient batting surface, substantially as described.

8. In a game device, a pitcher comprising rotating throwing arm, means for moving said arm radially during rotation thereof, said throwing arm having an opening for the reception of a ball, and means for quickly moving said throwing armin one direction at a predetermined point during the rotation thereof for projecting a ball from said opening, substantially as described.

9. In a game device, a pitcher comprising a rotating throwing arm, means for moving said arm radially during rotation thereof, said throwing arm having an opening for the reception of a ball, means for quickly moving said throwing arm in one direction at a predetermined point during the rotation thereof for projecting a ball from said opening, and a batter having a bat in the path of projection of'such ball, subst-arn tially as described.

10. In a game device, a pitcher comprising a rotating throwing arm, means for moving said arm radially duringhrotation thereof, said throwing arm having an opening for the reception of a ball, means for quickly moving said throwing arm in one direction at a predetermmed point during the rotatlon thereof for pro ecting a ball from said opening, a batter having a bat,

in the path of projection of such ball, and means for operating said throwing arm and said bat in predetermined time relation whereby the bat is swung to engage the projected ball, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ames MQMURPHY. 

